One does not hear Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, who also owns A.C. Milan, blaming himself because his captain, Maldini, has aged in dog years. It's money in the cable bank for Berlusconi.

That buffoon who owns the Perugia team had the gall to fire the South Korean glamour-boy striker, Ahn Jung Hwan, after his header eliminated Italy last week. It's a safe bet that owner pockets the swag from the player-killing schedule of Italy's top league.

There's your conspiracy, amici sportivi (sporting friends). European soccer leaders have made money from the dead legs, dead brains and dead national teams. They should bank their Euros, and stop whining when their boys cannot keep up with the South Koreans.